Machine for making tubes from hollow ingots



4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Q (N0 ModeL) S. P. M. TASKER.

MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBES FROM HOLLOW INGOTS.

I No. 331.580.

Patented Dec. 1, 1885.

INVENTOR W WITNESSES:

(No ModeL) 4 SheetsSheet 2. S. P. M. TASKER.

MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBES FROM HOLLOW INGOTS. No. 331,580. Patented Dec.1, 1885.

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S. P. M. TASKER.

MAGHII IE FOR MAKING TUBES PROM HOLLOW INGOTS. N0.l381,580. PatentedDec. 1,1885.

WITNESSES: 5' MENTOR N PETERS. Pllolwliflmgmphcn washin um, I10v (NoModel.) 1 4 Sheets Sheet 4. S. P. M. TASKER.

MACHINE FOR MAKINGTUBES FROM HOLLOW INGOTS. 110.331.1380. Patented Dec.1,1885.

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WITNESSES:

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UNITE STATES PATENT OFFTCEQ STEPHEN P. M. TASKER, OF PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBES FROM HOLLOW INGOTS.

EJPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 831,580, datedDecember 1, 1885.

Application filed July 22, 1885. Serial No. 172,278. (No model) To allwhom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN P. M. TASKER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for MakingTubes-from Hollow Metal Ingots and for Reducing Tubes or Rods, of whichthe following is a specification.

Apart from the intended employment of my machine for reducing and alsofor straightening tubes and rods, the object of my invention is themanufacture of a tube from a hollow cylindriform metal ingot by rolling,either hot or cold, by means of the machine hereinafter described, thesaid ingot down and out upon a mandrel at least of the required lengthof the tube to be formed, thereby compacting and consolidating thesubstance of the metal of the ingot, thinning or reducing the latter, inthickness, and elongating it until the required proportions areattained. The ingots which I employ are tubular or of a hollowcylindriform structure, of any metal, and either open at both ends,closed at one end, or closed at one end and provided through such closedend with an aperture for the traction-rod of a mandrel.

As my machine is of especial applicability to the making of steel tubes,I contemplate also the employment of a steel cast ingot of a characterinvented by me, two applications for patents for which were filed in theUnited States Patent Office upon the 14th day of May, 1885, andrespectively numbered 165,695 and 165,696.

Heretofore in the art of metal rolling two or more pairs or sets ofequal-sized concave faced rolls, the two rolls constituting therespective sets or pairs of which, being placed the one over the other,have crossed each other-that is to say, have been adjusted in suchmanner that vertical planes respectively projected from their respectivelongitudinal axes have intersected each other at other than a rightangle-have been in successive disposition in the same machine employedfor rounding, straightening, and sizing tubes and rods, the said tubesor rods having been passed through the passes of the successive sets ina direction which may, for the purposes of explanation, be described asrightangular to a common imaginary longitudinal axis of each pair ofrolls, or in a direction much more nearly right-angular to than parallelwith the longitudinal axis of each individual roll of each pair. art ofmetal rolling two or three equal-sized Heretofore, also, in the planes,and each and all at an angle to the said common longitudinal axis, whichis that of the article to be rolled, the said article having beenintroduced through a pass extending longitudinally between or through,so to speak, the rolls, (which pass, as is well known, is an extendedstraight bearing obtainedbetween the roll-faces in a line bisect ing theangle of inclination of the rolls,) and the said machine as such havingbeen employed for rolling, finishing,reducing,straightening, andsmoothing rods,tubes, sl1afting,and other cylindrical or tubulararticles,which re ceive a spiral or combined rotary and progressivemovement from the rolls, which all revolve in the same direction, andnot only form the article to a true cylindrical shape, but at the sametime feed it forward.

Assuming a set of rolls of the character last above described as a giventype, I may assume a set of rolls of the character first above describedas another given type, and may define the distinguishing characteristicsof the two types to be the direction inwhich the article to be rolled ispassed through the set of rolls-that is to say, whether it be passedthrough them in a direction right angular to what we may term theircommon axis, as in ICO a set'of concave-faced rolls composed of a seriesof three or more rolls arranged at an angle to each other, and each rollat a common angle'to its neighbor, so that the concave surfaces of allof the rolls form a circular pass, and in passing over the surface ofthe tube or rod hug it like a swage and touch it at every part, and allof which rolls are positively revolved in opposite directions.

In employing the foregoing machine for making tubes from ingots, amandrel adapted to be rotated with the ingot upon it, and at least ofthe required length of the tubeto be formed from said ingot, is passedthrough the pass of the set in a direction right angular to their commonface plane or-axis, as I for convenience term it, upon which mandrel thesubstance of the metal of the ingot is by the rolls compacted andconsolidated, and the ingotitselfthiimed or reduced in thickness andelongated until the required proportions are attained. A rod or tube tobe reduced or straightened is also passedthrough in a similar direction.

Apparatus embodying a good form of my invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings, and described in this specification,

' the'particular subject-matter claimed as novel being hereinafterdefinitely specified.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a face elevational end view ofa set of rolls embodying my invention, and composed of a series of threesimilarly-inclined overlapping rolls' of the character hereinafterdescribed, sight being taken in a direction right angular to the commonface plane or axis of the set.

' The view is in the nature of a fragmentary de tail, but part of two ofthe rolls being shown. The view also represents in section (not,however, to exactly correct proportions. and curvatures) the twoopposite segmental framingplates in connection with which the roll,whichis shown completed, is housed, together with boxings for the journals ofthe said roll and an adjusting-arm connected with one of said boxings.Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying my invention, andcom 1 posed of a set of rolls composed of a series of three rolls of thecharacter represented in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a central verticallongitudinal sidesectional elevation through the apparatus of Fig. 2,one of the rolls, however, not being shown in section. Fig. 4.- is aperspective view of the set of rolls represented in Figs. 2 and 3, sightbeing, however, taken from the opposite side from that from which sightin Fig. 2 is taken. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary partiallysectionalpartially-elevational, detail of a rotatable mandrel which I find itconvenient to employ when employing my machine for making tubes fromhollow metal. ingots.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, A represents any suitable bed or foundation forsupporting the housings within which the rolls are journaled.

'T-is'a tube, the direction of movement of which is represented by thearrow inthe drawings.

In the drawings no representation is made of any means for handling, or,if desired, for occasioning the advance or retraction of the tube, forthe reason that I assume such representation to be unnecessary, as anydevice for manipulating the tube into the pass of the rolls is adaptedfor employment. Some such device is, however, to be employed. I

B B are transverse vertical standards. between which are disposedframe-plates O, for supporting the boxings or bearings or the journalsor axles of the rolls, and which in the region of their support of saidbearings or journals'are conveniently eurved,'so as to be of suitablesegmental form to facilitate a movement of the boxings or journals ofthe rolls for the adjustment of said rolls. In the form of apparatusshown, in which there are threerolls to the set, there are convenientlysix I frame-plates between the standards, the frameplates and standardstogether constituting simply a framing for the support of the rolls. Therolls of the set are marked D, and more spectively inclined at an angleto each other, (it bei-ngQpreferable that the angle should be as slightas possible,) so that the axis of each roll is inclined with respect tothe axis of the adjoining rolls, and the axis of each roll possesses an,inclination corresponding to that of the axis of every other roll. Therolls, there fore, may be said to similarly overlap. Their relativepositions, from which there can be no departure except by mutualadjustment, are fullyrepresented in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The journaling or mounting of the rolls and the means for adjusting themare as follows: Each roll is, as stated, concave as to its centralportion or acting face, to which face or portion the letters D are inFig. 1 shown applied. Each roll is on each end, beyond its centralportion, prolonged, and the prolongations, together constituting shaftsof the roll, are composed of conical portions (1 and cylindricalportions d Beyond the said cylindrical portions each roll is providedwith journals or .axles d*, all as clearl-yrepresented in said Fig.

1. The journals are conveniently incased in boxingsF',w,-hich aremounted so as to have a movement in slots or ways G, formed in theframe-plates of the housing. If desired, the boxingscan be dispensedwith, and the journals be simply entered within said slots. I prefer,however, to employ boxings. The curvature of the segmental portions ofthe frame-plates is similar as toall the plates, and struck from aradius equal to onehalf of the length of each roll, so that the lengthof each roll between its frame-plates is conveniently equal to a,diametricline between two opposite frame:plates,which support a givenroll. The rolls are so mounted that their conical por tions,respectively face as represented in Fig. 1.

In order conveniently to effectuate the-movement of the-rolls, so as toslightly alter their relative angular disposition, and thereby en- IIOlarge or contract the diametric extent of the pass formed between them,I have connected with each boxing, or with the axle of the rolls, an adjusting-arm, H, which is conveniently passed through a slotted flange, I,erected from or connected with a frame-plate, the said arm beingthreaded and provided with lock-nuts 1', whereby the arm, andconsequently the boxings and the journals of the rolls, can be locked inpredetermined adjusted positions.

In the drawings, for clearness of illustration, I have represented theadjusting-arms as applied to but one end of each roll. It is, however,to be understood that they are applied to each journal or boxing of eachend of each roll. By virtue of the slots or ways in the said metalframe-plates and the adj usting-arms the movement of the rolls of eachset for increasing or diminishing the diameters of their passes becomesboth certain and easy. The slots or ways in opposite frame-plates aredisposed at a slight angle to each other, so as to facilitate themovements of the rolls in adjustment.

Asuitable arrangement or disposition of the frame-plates and the slotstherein is represented in the drawings.

The slots or ways for the journals of the rolls and the nut-providedadjusting-arms connected with the axle-boxings in said ways.

together constitute simply a composite rolladjusting contrivance, theoffice of which is to permit of and render easy the adjustment of therolls at different relative angles, so that the rolls may approach moreclosely together or separate, so as to increase or diminish the.

diametric extent of the pass between them,

and adapt them for employment with tubes or be operated upon.

rods of varying diameters. Any other adj usting device operating to asimilar result may, 40

however, be substituted in the stead of the foregoing. When axle boxingsare not employed, means for retaining the journals of the rolls in fixedpositions must be applied direct to the journals. e

As a gearing to occasion the positive driving of each of the rollsinopposite directions, 1 have provided the following contrivance, which isperhaps as well adapted to the pur- :pose as any other, although othermeans of wheels M, corresponding in number with the number of the rolls,and fixedly mounted upon similar projecting extremities oftheroll-journals, as will be clearly understood by areference to thedrawings. The crown-teeth -of the composite spur and crown wheels andthe teeth of the crown-wheels on the rolls are of proper inclination andof such depth as to permit of a given adjustment of the rolls withoutcausing the disengagement of the said teeth. The composite spur andcrown wheels are axially apertured and mounted upon tubular bearings N,supported from the standards.

The tube passes through these bearings in its passage through themachine, and is conveniently directed in its passage by bell-mouths.

O, or other guides applied to the standards.

As will be readily understood, when motion is imparted to the drivingshaft motion is imparted to the composite spur and crown wheels, andthereby motion in opposite di rections is also imparted to all of thecrownwheels, so as to occasion the revolution of all of the rolls inopposite directions, with the result that the tube, rod, or otherarticle being passed through the rolls is rapidly and evenly reduced,the whole rolling-surface of.

each roll bearing upon the said tube, touching it at every part, rollingout inequalities and causing it to take on a spiral progressive motionin its passagethrough the machine.

. When my machine is employed for making tubes, by using in connectionwith it a mandrel, P, at least ,as long as the tube to be formed thesaid mandrel is conveniently; adapted to be rotated by being swiveled inamandrel-head, Q, Fig. 5, which is actuated to its advance or retractionby any such means as are well known to ironmasters.

Having now described what I believe to be a convenient embodiment of myinvention, and at the same time described the opera tion of the machine,it is proper-for me to add. that I believe myself to be firstto use aman-,

drel capable of rotation about its longitudinal axis and of the lengthof the tube which is to.

be produced, in conjunction with aset of three or more correspondinglyangularly-disposedor overlapping and positively-driven concavefacedrolls, by which arrangement it is possible to reduce the externaldiameter of an ingot placed upon the mandrel, and, if desired,

feet a continued reduction until said .ingot becomes a tube of thedesired thickness of subthe same result, however, permit of theadjustment of the rolls to accommodate any size of article to be rolledwithin their range of separation;

The special adjusting devices described, or others operating tosubstantially by adjusting the rolls after each pass, to ef- The methodof driving the rolls which Ihave representedis a good one. It is,however,

as already stated, obvious that other driving machinery may be employed,or that the gears may be changed when the adjustment of the rolls issuch as to occasion the separation of 1 the teeth of the crown-gears, inwhich event wheels having longer teeth are to be substituted, andseveral sizes of gears may be thus employed with the machine.

When a mandrel is employed, it may be driven at a speed greater or lessthan that of the rolls, and is, when so driven, preferably driven by apower independent of the power employed to drive the rolls.

The spiral or revolving progressive motion to which an ingot on amandrel and with it the mandrel to which it for the time being adheres,or to which a tube or rod under process of reduction is subjected,prevents finningor irregularities of any kind, and therefore tends toproduce a uniformly cylindric and very marketable product.

When a mandrel is employed, it may be extracted from the tube afterrolling by stretching the tube by loosening the mandrel and byextracting the latter by any suitable means.

It is obvious that my'macliine is to be contradistinguished from amachine of the class hereinbefore referred to, in which two or threeequal-sized rolls having concave working-faces have been arranged in asuitable housing obliquely side by side, or one over the other, orspirally, as it were, around a commoncentral imaginary longitudinal axisof the set, and in whioh the pass of the set is extended longitudinallybetween or through, so to speak, the

rolls, as in machines of the foregoing class. The bearing being only, asto each roll, upon a line, and each roll revolving in the samedirection, the capacity for reduction is reduced to a minimum, and themachine adapted for straightening only; whereas in my machine, in whichthe rolls are disposed at as small an angle as possible, the rolls,as totheir acting faces, completely encircle the tube and maintain it as ifin a swage, instead of biting upon it in a series of longitudinalstraight lines of pressure, between which lines there is no contact ofthe rolls with the tube, so that there is nothing to prevent the tubefrom spreading between the said lines of bite.

My rolls act in reducing the metal much as the rolls of ordinaryrolling-mills, with, however, the advantage of a revolution beingimparted to the tube, so as to cause the uniform reduction and truing ofits surfaces.

While I have represented and herein described the set of rolls as beingcomposed of a series consisting of but three rolls, it is yet proper forme to state that I do not restrict myself to the employment of a seriesconsisting of but three rolls, as it will be obvious to any mechanicthat four, five, or even a greater number of rolls may be, undersuitable modifications of housing and means of adjustment, employed toproduce the same result as that which I obtain by the use of the saidthree rolls. Of course a larger number of crownwheels would have to beemployed, and many minor changes in the mounting and mode of adjustmentof the parts would have to be resorted to; but, as is obvious, thefeature of a set of concave-faced rolls, all of the rolls of which arearranged at an angle to each other, and eachroll at a common angle toits neighbor, so-that the concave surfaces of allof'the rolls form acircular pass, through which the article'to be-rolled is passed in adirection right -angular to the common face plane or axis of the set,and all of which rollsare'positively revolved in opposite directions,which is the most important feature of my invention, would be preservedin any such arrangement of increased series,

I do not claim or seek herein to cover in connection'with rolls of thecharacter herein set forth, and which are provided with positivemechanism for driving them, the arrangement of the rolls themselves, orthat of thehousing provided with segmental framing-plates, nor

yet that of the adjusting devices for-adjusting the journals of therolls with respect to their framing-plates, as I have made these withthis application- "Having thus described my invention, I claim' 1. In amachine for making tubes fromhollow metal ingots,or for reducing tubesor rods of metal, the combination of a series of three or moreconcave-faced rolls arranged at an angle to each other, and each roll ata common angle to its neighbors,so that the concave surfaces of all ofthe rolls form a circular pass, through which the article to be rolledis passed in a direction right angular to the common axis of the set,and-mechanism for revolving all of the rolls in oppositedirections,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a machine for making tubes from hol-- low metal ingots, orforreducing tubes or rods of metal, the combination of a series of threeor more concave-faced rolls arranged at an angle to each other, and eachroll at a common angle to its neighbors, so that the concave surfaces ofall of the rolls form a circular pass, through which the article to berolled is passed in a direction right angular to the common axis of theset, frame plates for the journals of the rolls, and mechanism forrevolving all of the rolls in opposite directions, substantially as andfor the purposes set forth.

-3. In a machine for making tubes from hollow metal-ingots, or forreducing tubes or rods of metal, the combination of a series of threeormore concave-faced rolls arranged at an angle to each other, and eachroll at a common angle to its neighbors, so that the concave surfaces ofall the rolls form a circular pass, through which the article to berolled is passed in adirection right angular to the common axis of theset, frame-plates for the journals of the rolls, means for securing thefixed adjustment of the journals of the rolls with re'- spect to theirframe-plates, the arrangement being thereby such that each set of rollsis capable of an independentadjustment, and

IIO

mechanism for revolving all of the rolls in opposite directions,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4:. In a machine for making tubes from hollow metal ing0ts,or forreducing tubes or rods of metal, the combination of a series of three ormore concave-faced rolls arranged at an angle to each other, and eachroll at a common angle to its neighbors, so that the concave surfaces ofall of the rolls form a circular pass, through which the article to berolled is passed in a direction right angular to the common axis of theset, frame-plates for the journals of the rolls, adj usting-armsconnected with the journals of all of the rolls and with the framing,the arrangement being thereby-such that each set of rollsis capable ofan independent adjustment, and mechanism for revolving all of the rollsin opposite directions, substantially as and for the purposes seti'orth.

In testimony whereof I havehereunto signed signed my name this 17th dayof July, A. D. 1885.

STEPHEN P. M. TASKER.

In presence of- J. BONSALL TAYLOR, JOHN J oLLEY, Jr.

